The Rt. Rev. David Bailey, Bishop of Navajoland, returns to our diocese to address Council about our blossoming mission partnership. Bishop Bailey has served as Bishop of Navajoland since August 7, 2010.

Bishop Bailey shares, “I want to express our appreciation for walking with us in our journey to rebuild over the last year. I’m experiencing in Navajoland the sharing of the love that has been expressed by you all on our behalf. We do not have the capability by ourselves to rebuild the church in Navajoland. But through the wonderful gifts that you are providing and are continuing to provide, a block at a time, we build the church in Navajoland. To be able to continue that and to walk in the journey of sharing God’s love with God’s people, I’m truly blessed.”

Tatiana Hoecker, World Mission Program Coordinator, presents the report on the Department of World Missions in the Diocese of West Texas. Joining the diocesan staff this year, she coordinates and aids our World Mission team leaders to foster and grow their programs around the world to be self-sustaining and to create sustainable change in communities world-wide. She reminds us that World Mission is “focused on SUSTAINABILITY in all of our programs and partnerships. We never work FOR the people we serve, we work WITH them.”

She also introduced Patricia Perea, development consultant for World Mission. Tatiana explains that “[Patricia] is communicating and working with priests and parishes to involve them in World Mission projects. When you get a call from her, make sure to pick it up! She wants to make sure you have access to all the resources you need to be a part of World Mission.”

Ms. Emily Kittrell, Director of Marketing & Communications reports on the new Department of Communications at the Diocese of West Texas.

Emily officially introduces herself and colleague Ms. Laura McGrew, Manager of Communications, shares the direction for the department, and begins a conversation with the audience through participation in a real-time digital polling tool.

Emily shares, “We understand that as a leader in the church you want to be a steward of compelling information, a storyteller, a kingdom-builder. In order to accomplish that you need an example of an amazing communications strategy, and that should start here…Which is why we have a renewed vision to develop and implement a multi-faceted strategic marketing and communications plan through the production of targeted, timely, relevant, and compelling messages, and through training and support for church communicators.”

The Rev. Scott Brown, Headmaster, TMI-Episcopal reports on TMI Episcopal in the Diocese of West Texas. TMI Episcopal is a coed, college-preparatory school for students in grades 6-12. Its rich history dates back to 1893 when the school was founded by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas and has grown to become the excellent academic community it is today.

Scott shares in his report, “Through relationships with our students, we are committed to challenging and cherishing our student body.” Our students will do very well in college admissions process…They’re enrolled in top-tier colleges all over the world and that is important. But what is equally as important is that they are great human beings, that they are serving their communities, and that they know they are loved. Challenged and cherished: We can do both. In fact, we must do both.”

The Rt. Rev. Benito Juarez-Martinez, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Mexico is honored on the occasion of his retirement, after many years of shared ministry and friendship between our dioceses. Martinez was ordained to the priesthood in 1973 and the Episcopate on November 13, 1999. About his ministry, he says, “My life with Jesus Christ has been a pilgrimmage that has given me the opportunity to meet and learn from many brothers and sisters of almost all the American Continent. I give thanks to our Almighty God because He has been my inspiration and my guide.”

The Rev. Jason Roberts, Rector at Holy Spirit, San Antonio, introduces, Richard Rogers, Consultant of Horizons Stewardship who reports on Revitalizing Stewardship in the Diocese of West Texas.

As part of the diocesan effort to re-energize and support stewardship within local congregations, the Stewardship Department is hosting a series of three day-long workshops: Revitalizing Stewardship Parts A, B, and C led by Richard Rogers. Each church is encouraged to appoint a stewardship team from their congregation to attend one, two, or all three of these coordinating workshops. Read more at dwtx.org.

The Rt. Rev. David Reed introduces our theme, saying “‘Walk in love as Christ loved us’ is our Council theme, as well as the Bible verse (from Ephesians) that will illumine and shape our mission and ministries in 2019. Throughout Council we will connect this passage to our Presiding Bishop’s call to the whole Church to engage, or re-engage, with “The Way of Love,” seven spiritual habits to strengthen our discipleship and help us do the work of the Kingdom of God.”

He explains several activities that will take place during Council 2019, including Way of Love themed bingo and conversations buttons, and then shared a video greeting from the Most Rev. Michael Curry to our diocese.